STATE OF DELAWARE
governor’s office
DOVER
EXECUTIVE ORDER
Number 24: Recognizing the Statewide Responsibilities of The Delaware Mentoring Council
WHEREAS, research shows that mentoring improves the social and academic well-being of children; and
WHEREAS, Delaware enjoys broad-based community support and involvement in education; and
WHEREAS, both school-based and community-based mentoring programs have been shown to be effective; and
WHEREAS, statewide coordination and support of mentoring will ensure greater efficiency and effectiveness of mentoring programs;
NOW, THEREFORE, I, JACK A. MARKELL, by virtue of the authority vested in me as Governor of the State of Delaware, do hereby DECLARE and ORDER that:
1. The Delaware Mentoring Council (the “Council”) shall be recognized and established as the statewide organization responsible for the promotion and facilitation of mentoring programs for school-aged children.
2. The Council, in cooperation with the Office of the Lieutenant Governor and Delaware Department of Education, shall support a statewide mentoring network and promote both school-based and community-based mentoring that focuses on the building of academic, career, social and life skills.
3. The Council shall have twenty-eight voting members. Members shall be appointed by and serve at the pleasure of the Governor, except as provided herein. The Governor shall appoint the Chair(s) of the Council from among its members. The membership of the Council shall be composed of:
(a) Four representatives from state-wide mentoring provider organizations, which shall be defined as an organization that provides training and coordination to mentoring programs, meets best practices as defined by the Council, and places mentors in more than one program site, and which shall include, but not be limited to, Big Brothers Big Sisters Delaware and Connecting Generations;
(b) A representative from the Delaware Department of Education;
(c) Two representatives from other state government agencies, such as the Department of Health and Social Services Office of Volunteerism, the Delaware Department of Services for Children, Youth and Their Families, and the Delaware Economic Development Office;
(d) A representative appointed by and serving at the pleasure of the Lieutenant Governor;
(e) Three representatives from the field of education, preferably but not limited to, one from each county;
(f) Four persons representing the Delaware General Assembly, of whom one shall be appointed by and serve at the pleasure of each of the President Pro Tempore of the Senate, the Minority Leader of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, and the Minority Leader of the House of Representatives;
(g) Six representatives from the business community, preferably at least one from each county and including members of the Business Mentoring Alliance;
(h) Four representatives from Delaware institutions of higher learning; including one each from the University of Delaware, Delaware State University, Wilmington University, and Delaware Technical and Community College; and
(i) Three representatives from faith and community-based organizations, preferably, but not limited to, one from each county.
4. The Governor may appoint one or more honorary chairs of the Council, but any such honorary chair shall not vote on matters considered by the Council.
5. The Council shall have no more than fifteen non-voting members appointed by the voting members, and those non-voting members shall include parents, mentors and mentored youth and shall be appointed to such terms as the Council shall establish.
6. Throughout the State of Delaware, the Council shall:
(a) Promote the benefits of mentoring and the recruitment of mentors;
(b) Identify and promote "The Elements of Effective Practice for Mentoring" of MENTORTM, the National Mentoring Partnership, for safe and effective mentoring programs;
(c) Oversee data collection and reporting regarding the status of mentoring in the state, including, but not limited to, the number of mentoring pairs and how many children are in need of a mentor;
(d) Work to ensure an adequate level of financial resources to support mentoring programs statewide, including fund raising and funds distribution;
(e) Support efforts to provide and improve training, match supervision, technical assistance and evaluation of mentoring programs;
(f) Coordinate centralized mentor and mentee training that is both accessible and affordable;
(g) Provide technical assistance to organizations interested in starting, strengthening or expanding a quality mentoring program;
(h) Coordinate statewide media campaigns, maintain a web site and serve as the coordinator of National Mentoring Month;
(i) Advocate and promote public policies that strengthen mentoring;
(j) Provide an annual report of its activities to the Governor each July after the execution of this order; and
(g) Conduct a full evaluation of its activities and administrative arrangements within five years of the execution of this order and provide a report to the Governor of its evaluation, which shall include a recommendation as to the continuation of the Council.
7. Executive Order No. 99, dated September 17, 1991, issued by Governor Michael N. Castle, and Executive Order No. 26, dated January 10, 2002, issued by Governor Ruth Ann Minner, are hereby rescinded.
APPROVED this 18th day of January, 2011
Jack A. Markell
Governor
